Dan Kneen optimistic after stunning ride to fifth in Supersport TT
Manx privateer sensation Dan Kneen is hoping to again beat the established top names and factory teams when the second Monster Energy Supersport TT race is run.
The 22-year-old took an incredible fifth place after starting from 15th in the first Monster Energy Supersport race on Monday.
He had been as high as third on the 600cc Marks Bloom/Manx Gas Racing Yamaha and managed a fastest lap of 125.01mph.
Manxman Kneen was only beaten by Ian Hutchinson, Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop and Keith Amor, and finished ahead of TT winners like Ian Lougher, Cameron Donald, Ryan Farquhar and 15-times victor John McGuinness.
Speaking afterwards, Kneen said:
“I hoped to be around maybe eighth or ninth and when I saw my first board saying third place I just got my head down and went for it.”
“I’m well chuffed with the result even though I did get held up a fair bit during the race by some other riders. The bike ran well, the pit stop was spot on, I lost a bit of time as well as there were a lot of waved yellow flags around the course, but anyway its a great result for me and the team.”
‘Slick’ Bass of Slick Performance, who looks after Kneen’s machines, added:
“The bike’s great and stays the same for the second race, just a new clutch fitted, an oil change and should be good to go!”
In the Royal London 360 Superstock race on Monday afternoon, Kneen finished in 15th place despite handling problems and added yet another silver replica to the ones he gained from Saturday’s 12th place in the PokerStars Superbike TT.
Kneen is optimistic about tomorrow’s second Monster Energy Supersport race.
He said:
“It would be nice to get a lower start number this time, but anyway I shall just try and get into a nice smooth rhythm early on and will hope we can get a good result again.”